Marcos on PH design industry: 'It's approaching world-class'

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Friday highlighted how the country's creative design industry has improved, especially in the global scene.

''I have to say that it’s so impressive. I mean, I have watched the design community become better and better and better in the Philippines and approaching world-class. Now, I would even go so far as to say that now we are, [as] in many cases that I’ve seen here today, surpassed world-class. We are better than others,'' Marcos said in his speech at the Manila FAME 2024.

''Now, the only thing -- and that’s what DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) is working very hard to do -- is to promote it,'' he added.

Marcos said the designs that he saw at the Manila FAME 2024 were ''very Filipino,'' which means they are charming, amusing, and entertaining.

''You can really see that Pinoys… Well, anyway, maybe because I’m Filipino, gawa ng Pinoy ‘yan, you know, because there is always a touch of humor, there is always a touch of charm, there’s always a touch of softness and gentleness,'' he explained.

Marcos said the government is pushing to put the design industry into the digital space so that they could work in the world market.

''And it’s just up to us to scale up. It’s just up to us to keep the progress going because it’s very important that you’re continuously creative. But that’s --- I don’t think that that’s a problem for Filipinos,'' Marcos said.

Marcos said the design industry contributes at least 7.1 or 7.2 percent of the country's Gross domestic product or GDP.

''And that is --- when you translate that into pesos, that’s trillions of pesos. So, it’s not a small thing,'' Marcos said.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Liza Marcos (@lizamarcos)

"Blown away"

On Thursday, First Lady Louise ''Liza'' Araneta-Marcos said she was "blown away" by the creativity and artistry at the Manila FAME 2024 trade show.

''The colors, patterns and textures from our Filipino artisans were truly something special. What a showcase of talent!'' the First Lady said in an Instagram post.

''It was also such a pleasure to be part of the Filipino Fashion Forum and the Katha Awards, where we recognized the visionaries leading the way in sustainability and design excellence,'' she added.

Manila FAME is Asia’s second-largest trade show for home, furnishing, and lifestyle. It serves as a platform for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Filipino designers, and local artisans, facilitating global connections and showcasing their exceptional creations.

--VAL, GMA Integrated news